ABSTRACT
It has long been realised that many families need support if they are not only to cope with a child with a disability, but help the child to reach his or her potential in adulthood. The literature abounds with references to the challenges which families of children with visual impairments may face. In the earliest stage these include adjusting to the birth of a baby with an impairment or facing a dearth of information on diagnosis and prognosis (Fraiberg 1977, Sommers 1944, Wills 1978). Normal life events, such as the first entry into school, transfer at secondary stage, leaving school and finding employment may bring unique anxieties for the children with a visual impairment and their families. In this chapter, some of the needs of families will be described and the ways in which professionals can help to meet these needs will be addressed.
